Talent is marvelous. Talented people, using their talents, are inspiring and as I have seen people ply their skills I have longed to:

Paint pictures, Design shoes, Blow glass, Tame dolphins, Understand the constellations, Invent perfumes, Whistle.

The list changes every time I am excited by someone dedicated to their vocation and I wish I could do that, too.

To clarify the exercise in your own mind, pause here for a few moments to write out your wish list of talents. It will tell you something about where you stand in appreciating other people and their achievements.

You see, a vast number of people claim they were ‘behind the door’ when the talents were handed out. A friend of mine, as she effortlessly hosted a superb luncheon for eight, laughingly disclaimed any talent.

She was wearing a jumper she had knitted in a dining room she had decorated and there was not so much as a wooden spoon out of place in her colour coordinated kitchen.

I was envious of her wonderful talents because I do not have any. Oops, sorry. Perhaps, just perhaps, I have a talent for admiring other talent, a bit like the boy who was chided for not singing during choir practice. He said simply, ‘Well, somebody has to listen.’

Just so, somebody has to appreciate talent or talent would not appear to have value. Maybe God is pleased when I affirm what he has created in someone else. Maybe I follow his thoughts, however falteringly, when ‘he saw all that he had made and it was very good.’

Just so, you look ‘very good’ to me.

I must explore the thought that the talent for being able to appreciate talent will lead me to a gratefulness for people who are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made,’ and ‘made in the image of God.’

Show me your God through the talents he has given you. If I can begin to appreciate you I will begin to love you because I will see God in you

Elizabeth Price reprice@dragnet.com.au